Eight decades have elapsed since the conclusion of the war, marking the anniversary of the 'Aktion Rheinland' group in Dusseldorf
In Düsseldorf, recent research by the Mahn- und Gedenkstätte (Memorial and Remembrance Site) has shed new light on the wartime role of Franz Jürgens, a former official in the city.
Contrary to previous beliefs, Jürgens was not a member of the "Aktion Rheinland" group, but rather a supporter who helped facilitate the peaceful surrender of Düsseldorf to the Allies. However, new findings reveal that Jürgens was aligned with National Socialist ideology for much of the war and played a role in the deportation of Jews from Darmstadt. It was only in the final weeks of the war that he opposed the Nazi regime.
As a result of his active involvement in the Nazi state and responsibility for atrocities, the city of Düsseldorf has decided to rename Franz-Jürgens-Straße as a repudiation of his honor. This decision serves as a symbolic act during the ongoing reckoning with the Nazi past in Düsseldorf.
The commemoration of this historical reassessment saw the attendance of several notable figures. Norbert Lauxtermann, the nephew of Josef Lauxtermann, participated for the first time this year. Aloys Odenthal's daughter and granddaughter also attended, as did Ole Heier, the grandson of the murdered Theodor Andresen.
Miriam Koch and Police President Miriam Brauns laid wreaths at the memorial on Wednesday. Koch emphasized that engaging with the end of the war 80 years ago and resistance actions like 'Aktion Rheinland' is a call to action for the present.
This event serves as a reminder that understanding our past is crucial for shaping our future, and that the process of reconciliation and remembrance is an ongoing one.
- War-and-conflicts in the past, such as World War II, continue to be subjects of ongoing reckoning, as illustrated by the recent reevaluation of Franz Jürgens' role in Düsseldorf's history.
- Despite his initial collaboration with the Nazi regime and involvement in Jewish deportations, the role of Franz Jürgens in the politics of war-and-conflicts, particularly his change of allegiance during the final weeks of the war, remains a significant aspect of general news and historical discourse.
